Detailed Pharmacognostical and Phyto-Chemical Investigation of

Aragwadha (Cassia fistula Linn) of Caesalpiniaceae family is commonly used herb in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Various parts of this plant, having vivid actions is utilised in various disorders. Phalamajja (fruit pulp) of this plant is having purgative action and is utilised in Virechana karma. In Sharangadhara samhita its purgative action is referred as Sramsana. In the present study pharmacognostical, phytochemical analysis along with High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography of the Aragwadha phalamajja has been performed. The drug was also characterized for its physico-chemical properties. The presence of Fibre, Mesocarp cells with yellow brownish pigments, Prismatic and Clusture crystals of calcium oxalate, Fragments of epicarp, Aleurone green cells, Fragment of lignified fibre, Fragment of epicarp containing group of stone cells were the characteristic features observed in the microscopy of the drug. Pharmaceutical analysis gave ash value 8.32 % w/w and water soluble extract 49.20 % w/w. Phyto-chemical analysis indicated presence of anthraquinone glycosides and tannins. The present study provides the details of Aragwadha phalamajja, its pharmacognostical and phyto-chemical characters which may help in putting down a standard protocol for future research works